engine sound enhancement integration into an aftermarket audio … · 2016. 10. 28. · engine...

Engine Sound Enhancement Integration into an Aftermarket Audio Amplifier Systems

Rob Hamelink

Brian Servis, PhD

G3 Acoustics LLC 201 West Washington Ave

Zeeland, Michigan

[email protected] Patents Granted and Pending

1. Introduction/Background

2. Industry Research and Target Market

3. Consumer Awareness and Needs

4. Product Design and Development

5. Consumer Validation

6. Implementation for production

7. Conclusions

8. Acknowledgement

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Outline

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Introduction / Background

• G3|Acoustics brings a combined 40+ years of product development experience from the OEM automotive industry including numerous granted and pending patents.

• Our extended enterprise includes Audio and Acoustics expertise, Product Engineering, CAD, Manufacturing, Marketing and Distribution.

• This experience will enable the successful application of Advanced Audio and Active Noise Reduction technologies to a number of business and product sectors.

• Our portfolio of future product applications includes transportation; architecture; and the aftermarket, marine and recreational vehicle Industries.

Rob Hamelink - Operations •25 year career in Product Research and Development in

the automotive industry. Work experiences include Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Johnson Controls Automotive where he became Chief Engineer of Interiors Innovation.

•Responsibilities included leading a team of engineers and managing an annual development budget of $2.5M:

Defined customer needs, technology roadmaps, product feasibility, and business growth opportunities.

•Accomplishments include numerous Product innovations including Integrated Audio in headliners; advanced displays, electronics and lighting integration; new manufacturing processes; and active noise cancellation and sound design synthesis for the vehicle cabins.

•Holder of a number of granted and pending patents in areas of audio , active noise cancellation, advanced display technologies, interior trim integration, and automotive aftermarket products.

•B.S. Physics, M.S. Mechanical Engineering

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• Roles and Responsibilities:

• As Director of Engineering , Dr. Servis will lead engineering resources and work

with key technical partners to ensure product success. He will perform as the

top technical authority for opportunities and issues related to the product

solution and will provide execution oversight for development, test,

conformance and evaluation efforts as well as continued product research

opportunities.


Dr. Brian Servis - Engineering •Principal Acoustics Engineer in the automotive industry for

more than 10 years:

Brings his wealth of knowledge in acoustics and its application to the vehicle cabin space to enable new applications in the transportation, marine, and industrial sectors.

•Advanced Engineering Project Experience: Included Providing microphone, speaker and call quality development support on Bluetooth hands-free telematics products. Supported projects such as Active Noise Cancellation and Integrated Audio Solutions and Sound Synthesis.

•Advanced technical degrees: - Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of

Southern California.

- Master’s degree and Ph.D. from the School of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University.

•Patents granted and pending

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Background: Technology

Sound synthesis of automotive engine/exhaust tones.

• The perceived engine sound image and sound quality are very essential in differentiating a vehicle in the current marketplace.

• A new technology exists called Active Sound Design (ASD) used for engine sound enhancement.

• This technology enables Automotive OEM’s to define and refine their vehicle sound image.

• This is accomplished utilizing the vehicle audio system.


Patents Granted and Pending

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Background: Technology Awareness

Recently showing up in the OEM Luxury Market


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http://gmauthority.com/blog/2014/09/cadillac-ats-coupe-also-uses-engine-sound-enhancement-feature-spotlight/

“Some were surprised to hear that the 2014 Cadillac CTS and 2015 CTS utilized a system that pumps the vehicle’s engine and exhaust sounds into the vehicle using its sound system. And as it so happens, the 2015 ATS Coupe uses a similar technology. Called Engine Sound Enhancement (ESE), the system amplifies the vehicle’s engine and exhaust sounds through the audio system. To note, the sounds are not pre-recorded, but rather further enhance the sounds the car is making.”

2014 / 2015 Cadillac CTS


recently showing up in the OEM Luxury Market






















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Industry Research and Target Market


Going Mainstream Vehicle Market – 2015+ Mustang

• “2015 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Gets Active Sound Generator”

• “2015 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Uses Sound Generator”

• “2015 Ford Mustang EcoBoost: Boosting Engine Sounds with Speakers”

• “2015 Ford Mustang's 'Active Noise Control' Raises Engine Noise Through Car ...”

• “The Mustang's speakers improve the EcoBoost's sound”

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“A bunch of manufacturers do this. Hardly a new thing or Ford only. BMW, VW, Porsche are a few….It's like a back up singer adding depth to whats’ already there….You get a quieter cabin but still get the aural pleasure of hearing the mechanics growl. Sound from in the cabin is great IMO.” -Mustang6g discussion forum “The way I see it is, companies can spend thousands on mufflers and resonators, but does that make it authentic? To me, resonators and bigger mufflers are same as electronic engine sound augmentation. “ -Mustang6g discussion forum “Ford was surgical with the noise alteration. The point was to mute out some of the turbo noise and amplify the 'good', but they really took a limited approach with it.” -Mustang6g discussion forum “I live with the V6 but I've heard the Eco, no comparison the V6 sounds great. Closest to the V8 in many ways.. That's one big reason why I got the V6 in the first place. Of course I'm talking stock only.” -Mustang6g discussion forum “Both sounds are different and both sound awesome, it pretty much depends on what the person likes really.”… "What sounds better" is such a subjective question….The answer is going to be based 100% on personal opinion…. the aftermarket is alive with options to tailor make the car to your liking.” -Mustang6g discussion forum

Consumer Awareness and Needs

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“I have a Ecoboost manual trans car. I replaced the speakers, build a fiberglass subwoofer enclosure and added two amps. The music sounds much better BUT, I noticed that the "engine" sound was ALSO, amplified....The "engine" sound is more than double as loud as it was before the amps were added…. am wondering if I can "adjust" the "engine" sound effect. Do any of you have any ideas or what have you done about it after adding and amp to your car ?” “ I don't want to completely disable it, I would prefer to simply lower the volume on it.” -Mustang6g discussion forum “With the mic disconnected and the amps not connected (by disconnecting the remote cable ), the car is too quiet, I can barely hear the engine. That is why I would like to just lower the volume of the ‘digital engine sounds’…. " -Mustang6g discussion forum “I have the base system in my car, I updated to the JBL 638's speakers and now I'm having issues with the pumped in engine noise. At times it's really loud coming through the rear speakers. Does anyone know if there is a fix to this or not? Sometimes is worse than others, but its starting to drive me crazy.” -Mustang6g discussion forum “I bought an EcoBoost a few weeks ago and am really enjoying it. The engine is too quiet though. I heard about the Active Noise Control and was wondering if there was a way to use it to boost the engine noise (real or fake lol) so it can be better heard in the cabin. It would be really cool if the engine noise increased when I put the car in Sport or Track mode and then got quieter in Normal mode.” -www.StangNet.com discussion forum


• Consumer needs conclusion – 2015 Mustang : - Mustang brand is classically identified by exhaust tone.

- Unique engine configuration is available for generation 6 Mustang (I4 turbo)

- Physical challenge exists to create a desirable (Mustang) signature with an I4 turbo and V6 engine configuration.

- Sound Design implemented by Ford to optimize exhaust tone for the I4.

- Not all Mustang consumers desire Ford’s solution.

•Current option is aftermarket exhaust

- Expensive

- Difficult decision to assure the right choice was made.

- Can create tradeoffs such as drone or performance compromises.

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Sound enhancement technology via the existing audio system.

- An effective and low-risk solution to achieve the desired

sound character in a vehicle.

- Accurate representation of target engine sounds (GT, GT350, aftermarket exhaust tones, etc.)

- “Plug and Play” installation similar to existing aftermarket audio systems.

- Customized profiles can be selected and changed real time via Bluetooth app.

- Additional profiles can be offered in the future.

- Audio performance is also improved through our partnership with Bongiovi Acoustics. Utilizing their Digital Power Station technology.


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Solution: G3 Acoustics Aftermarket Audio/ Sound Design System

• Record the desired vehicle audible signature through rpm run-ups and various inputs (throttle, rpm, gear, torque, etc.)

• Map the signature sound to these parameters tracked via the CAN bus

• Calibrate to the response of the audio output system for the target vehicle.

• Create the desired vehicle profile (optimized, desired sound signature as a function of all tracked parameters)

• Output the sound design in real time by mixing with audio within our aftermarket audio amplifier.

• Manage the combined output with digital signal processing to optimize the performance within the constraints of the OEM audio system.

Product Design and Development - Process


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Product Design and Development – Testing

Target vehicle

Data acquisition

Engine orders vs rpm

Engine rpm run up

Product Design and Development - Hardware

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Digital Audio

Amplifier with

Sound Design

Consumer

Interface

through

Bluetooth app


“Plug and Play”

Harness

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Product Demonstration

SEMA 2015

November 2015

Las Vegas Nevada:

- Specialty Equipment Marketer’s Association

Consumer Validation Plan

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• BETA market validation

• Pre sale of first 100 to Mustang

enthusiasts

1. Active sound design/enhancement is becoming prevalent in vehicle audio system.

2. A powerful cost effective method to enhance vehicle interior signature, without affecting exterior sound signature.

3. Consumers want options to select the highly subjective sound design that meets their needs and expectations.

4. There is a market for sound design/enhancement in the automotive aftermarket.

5. G3 Acoustics has developed an audio/ sound enhancement system for the automotive aftermarket that improves the audio performance of the vehicle and creates customized sound design enhancement of the signature Mustang exhaust tone .

6. The product and technology is scalable to numerous vehicle manufacturers, brands, and models.

Patents Granted and Pending 19

Conclusions

• Genesis -

-Sound Design Hardware/Software

• Bongiovi Media and Technologies -

-Audio DPS Algorithms

• AVG Ltd -

-Automotive DSP Amplifier


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Acknowledgement / Partners

contact:

Rob Hamelink Cell: 616-283-7494

[email protected]

www.g3acoustics.com


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Contact Information

mailto:[email protected]

engine sound enhancement integration into an aftermarket audio … · 2016. 10. 28. · engine...

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